Most Embarrassing Thing Someone in Your Family Does? (6 Viewers)

[Max Power]

Love my wife but she is prone to arguing prices at checkout in stores. When something doesn't ring up for the price she was expecting it to, we're going to have a problem. She did it today in back to back stores.

First was Target who had a 2 for $4 sale sticker on iced coffees. She grabbed a bunch and during checkout they ring up for $3.29 each. After some back and forth we figure out the sale ended Monday. She goes into "You have to honor the sale price if it's still posted" routine. I've told her before that isn't true, but she is always quick to tell me how she worked at Target as a teenager and that was their policy. Don't argue with the customer, even if it's priced wrong. So after scaring the heck out of this teenage kid at the register, he just overrides the price and we get out of there saving about $10 whole dollars.

Next up is BJ's wholesale. This time we get to checkout and something rings up "wrong". It's $5 more than she was expecting. So now we're holding up the line going back and forth with cashier that the price is wrong and it's not what is posted in the aisle. The store sends someone to check it out and sure enough they have a pallet in the wrong place, so its under a price for something else. This time she argues that again the store needs to honor the price. Cashier calls a manager over and after some more back and forth, they knock $5 bucks off the final bill.

So after about 15 minutes of holding up lines and arguing with cashiers we saved $15 dollars. Its a win all day in her books, but I'm just standing over here shaking my head at her bickering over dollars. I only embarrass her when I drink, so I guess its a fair trade.

What's the group got?

 

[Joe Schmo]

My dad farts all over his house when you come to visit. It's like he gave up being considerate and decided he's gonna do what he wants in his own house. It's especially embarrassing when we have a big get together and significant others are with us. Just gross.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Road rage.

I have a brother who is still prone to it, and it's like, "you're 48, grow the hell up."

 

[rockaction]

I think the person in the family with the embarrassing tendencies is . . . welp . . . let’s just say I’m not too fond of the mirror emporium.

 

[Bossman]

Love my wife but she is prone to arguing prices at checkout in stores. When something doesn't ring up for the price she was expecting it to, we're going to have a problem. She did it today in back to stores.

First was Target who had a 2 for $4 sale sticker on iced coffees. She grabbed a bunch and during checkout they ring up for $3.29 each. After some back and forth we figure out the sale ended Monday. She goes into "You have to honor the sale price if it's still posted" routine. I've told her before that isn't true, but she is always quick to tell me how she worked at Target as a teenager and that was their policy. Don't argue with the customer, even if it's priced wrong. So after scaring the heck out of this teenage kid at the register, he just overrides the price and we get out of there saving about $10 whole dollars.

Next up is BJ's wholesale. This time we get to checkout and something rings up "wrong". It's $5 more than she was expecting. So now we're holding up the line going back and forth with cashier that the price is wrong and it's not what is posted in the aisle. The store sends someone to check it out and sure enough they have a pallet in the wrong place, so its under a price for something else. This time she argues that again the store needs to honor the price. Cashier calls a manager over and after some more back and forth, they knock $5 bucks off the final bill.

So after about 15 minutes of holding up lines and arguing with cashiers we saved $15 dollars. Its a win all day in her books, but I'm just standing over here shaking my head at her bickering over dollars. I only embarrass her when I drink, so I guess its a fair trade.

What's the group got?

Sure, it's embarrassing, awkward, and somewhat inconsiderate, ... for several minutes per checkout
... but just think of the dozens of dollars she saves the family every year.

 

[Zow]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law are incapable of making a waiter's job easy. They cannot just order something as is off the menu and always have at least one or two requested changes and usually have some sort of input or special request as to how the food is prepared. They'll then almost always request some side of something that isn't a side so the poor waiter needs to figure out how to get it ordered and what the charge will be. Then, when the food comes, they'll inevitably want something changed or something wasn't correct and more "orders" are given and not usually in the nicest of tones. They also will have little to no patience for the waiter should they need something else during the dining experience - e.g. a refill, more dressing, a different side, more napkins, etc.

We (their children and their children's spouses) have to just sit there trying to not be embarrassed - which gets tough when the poor waiter looks at us for what appears like help (which, of course, we can't really give). I make it a point to be as kind to the server as possible when taking my order and getting my food. My wife does the same. I'll usually say something as well like, "I'll take the [insert entree] the way the chef has it listed" to try to subtly let the waiter know I understand.

The saving grace is that they tip really well if the waiter maneuvers their difficult asks and expectations and will still tip decently if the waiter screws up (which happens more often than not because if the place is at all busy the waiter inevitably will). If they didn't I would seriously consider not dining with them - which would be a shame because it's usually a pleasurable experience otherwise and something we often do.

 

[playin4beer]

My wife orders her steak "well WELL" done.. as if one "well" isn't enough.

 

[Jayrod]

My mother-in-law will do the multiple special requests at restaurants and it is a bit embarrassing, but she is very polite otherwise.

The thing she is most obnoxious with is asking a million really simple questions when buying something and making a million special/irregular requests. I've been her helper/assistant through some major financial decisions and it is like trying to explain things to a 3rd grader. Her foundation of basic knowledge is fairly low and she refuses to move on until she understands every nuance. I almost hung myself when helping her buy a new car. It took us 6 hours and she knew the car she wanted before we walked in the door.

 

[Max Power]

Love my wife but she is prone to arguing prices at checkout in stores. When something doesn't ring up for the price she was expecting it to, we're going to have a problem. She did it today in back to stores.

First was Target who had a 2 for $4 sale sticker on iced coffees. She grabbed a bunch and during checkout they ring up for $3.29 each. After some back and forth we figure out the sale ended Monday. She goes into "You have to honor the sale price if it's still posted" routine. I've told her before that isn't true, but she is always quick to tell me how she worked at Target as a teenager and that was their policy. Don't argue with the customer, even if it's priced wrong. So after scaring the heck out of this teenage kid at the register, he just overrides the price and we get out of there saving about $10 whole dollars.

Next up is BJ's wholesale. This time we get to checkout and something rings up "wrong". It's $5 more than she was expecting. So now we're holding up the line going back and forth with cashier that the price is wrong and it's not what is posted in the aisle. The store sends someone to check it out and sure enough they have a pallet in the wrong place, so its under a price for something else. This time she argues that again the store needs to honor the price. Cashier calls a manager over and after some more back and forth, they knock $5 bucks off the final bill.

So after about 15 minutes of holding up lines and arguing with cashiers we saved $15 dollars. Its a win all day in her books, but I'm just standing over here shaking my head at her bickering over dollars. I only embarrass her when I drink, so I guess its a fair trade.

What's the group got?

Sure, it's embarrassing, awkward, and somewhat inconsiderate, ... for several minutes per checkout
... but just think of the dozens of dollars she saves the family every year.

Good chance she had to unwind from those battles with some Starbucks, so maybe break even...

 

[Ilov80s]

I am wondering how much money an item would have to be mismarked by for me to make a fuss.

Unfortunately as dementia has slowly set in, the most annoying thing that a family member does no longer happens but my MIL was such a pain in the *** to food staff. Every time we would go out to eat, she would do or say something embarrassing. Her favorite line to servers who didn't know something was "oh you're new here". We laugh about it but it's also so cringeworthy. Every drink gets sent back because it's too sweet or not sweet enough. Her steak is never cooked right. She always wants to talk with the manager at some point just to give them all her thoughts about the meal which she considers doing them a favor because she thinks they need to know that the potatoes were too peppery or the server is pronouncing the wine wrong. Sadly now she can't remember enough to figure out a complaint to lodge.

 

[beer 30]

My wife orders her steak "well WELL" done.. as if one "well" isn't enough.

This is my wife, if there is any red she won't eat it. Has to be burnt, tough and nasty...with plenty of A1 sauce. Needless to say I don't take her out to eat steak often. She gets physically mad at home if I cook one and there is red in it. I typically put her steak on 15 minutes prior and let it cook while we all get ours medium and then leave it on about 5 minutes after.

 

[playin4beer]

My wife orders her steak "well WELL" done.. as if one "well" isn't enough.

This is my wife, if there is any red she won't eat it. Has to be burnt, tough and nasty...with plenty of A1 sauce. Needless to say I don't take her out to eat steak often. She gets physically mad at home if I cook one and there is red in it. I typically put her steak on 15 minutes prior and let it cook while we all get ours medium and then leave it on about 5 minutes after.

I've become an expert on grilling steaks so that ours is done at the same time and hers is brown all the way through.. Same thing, no red whatsoever.. She'll cut it up and put it in a frying pan if it does..

 

[Leroy Hoard]

He's been gone for awhile, but there was this one uncle who would show up late and drunk every Christmas at my parents house. One year he stumbled through the door with a handful of poorly wrapped presents, goes up to the tree to drop off his gifts, trips and crashes into the tree, knocks it over and falls on top of it. All of us kids thought it was the funniest thing ever, but for some reason the adults did not agree. He was never invited again.

 

[tjford]

My wife orders her steak "well WELL" done.. as if one "well" isn't enough.

My cousin gets her steak well done and eats it with ketchup. I just can't...

 

[Joe Schmo]

He's been gone for awhile, but there was this one uncle who would show up late and drunk every Christmas at my parents house. One year he stumbled through the door with a handful of poorly wrapped presents, goes up to the tree to drop off his gifts, trips and crashes into the tree, knocks it over and falls on top of it. All of us kids thought it was the funniest thing ever, but for some reason the adults did not agree. He was never invited again.

Was his name Eddie per chance?

 

[Max Power]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law are incapable of making a waiter's job easy. They cannot just order something as is off the menu and always have at least one or two requested changes and usually have some sort of input or special request as to how the food is prepared. They'll then almost always request some side of something that isn't a side so the poor waiter needs to figure out how to get it ordered and what the charge will be. Then, when the food comes, they'll inevitably want something changed or something wasn't correct and more "orders" are given and not usually in the nicest of tones. They also will have little to no patience for the waiter should they need something else during the dining experience - e.g. a refill, more dressing, a different side, more napkins, etc.

We (their children and their children's spouses) have to just sit there trying to not be embarrassed - which gets tough when the poor waiter looks at us for what appears like help (which, of course, we can't really give). I make it a point to be as kind to the server as possible when taking my order and getting my food. My wife does the same. I'll usually say something as well like, "I'll take the [insert entree] the way the chef has it listed" to try to subtly let the waiter know I understand.

The saving grace is that they tip really well if the waiter maneuvers their difficult asks and expectations and will still tip decently if the waiter screws up (which happens more often than not because if the place is at all busy the waiter inevitably will). If they didn't I would seriously consider not dining with them - which would be a shame because it's usually a pleasurable experience otherwise and something we often do.

I was going to add an honorable mention for an Aunt I have like that. She'll ask how things are prepared or what the salt content is of food to a wait staff that doesn't know the answer. She'll then reference her son who worked in a restaurant, so she knows how kitchens run. She ordered steamed vegetables and requested they are steamed with layers of stick butter, not the spreadable kind, on top.

My FIL has also been known to stand up, hold up an empty glass and stare down a waitress for a refill.

 

[Joe Schmo]

As a self own, my son hates it when I tell dad jokes in front of his friends. Now that he lives on his own I do my best not to do that when he comes over but sometimes the urge is just too strong.

 

[tjford]

Love my wife but she is prone to arguing prices at checkout in stores. When something doesn't ring up for the price she was expecting it to, we're going to have a problem. She did it today in back to back stores.

First was Target who had a 2 for $4 sale sticker on iced coffees. She grabbed a bunch and during checkout they ring up for $3.29 each. After some back and forth we figure out the sale ended Monday. She goes into "You have to honor the sale price if it's still posted" routine. I've told her before that isn't true, but she is always quick to tell me how she worked at Target as a teenager and that was their policy. Don't argue with the customer, even if it's priced wrong. So after scaring the heck out of this teenage kid at the register, he just overrides the price and we get out of there saving about $10 whole dollars.

Next up is BJ's wholesale. This time we get to checkout and something rings up "wrong". It's $5 more than she was expecting. So now we're holding up the line going back and forth with cashier that the price is wrong and it's not what is posted in the aisle. The store sends someone to check it out and sure enough they have a pallet in the wrong place, so its under a price for something else. This time she argues that again the store needs to honor the price. Cashier calls a manager over and after some more back and forth, they knock $5 bucks off the final bill.

So after about 15 minutes of holding up lines and arguing with cashiers we saved $15 dollars. Its a win all day in her books, but I'm just standing over here shaking my head at her bickering over dollars. I only embarrass her when I drink, so I guess its a fair trade.

What's the group got?

My wife does this sometimes too but my kids refer to it like a superpower. "Hey mom, can you karen it up so we can get this cheaper?"

I always feel for the person on the receiving end so I usually defer on stuff like that, even if it's warranted.

 

[wlwiles]

My wife orders her steak "well WELL" done.. as if one "well" isn't enough.

My wife's grandmother will literally tell the server "I want it just shy of burnt". 30 minutes after we're all finished she's still chewing away at her shoe leather, while commenting "mmm, it's perfect, and it's so tender!"

 

[Gally]

As a self own, my son hates it when I tell dad jokes in front of his friends. Now that he lives on his own I do my best not to do that when he comes over but sometimes the urge is just too strong.

It's kind of your job as a dad.

 

[Mookie]

I tend to talk to myself when I'm alone, and there are times when I'm fuming where I will go off. Well, this one time I came home for lunch after a particularly bad morning at work and starting cursing up a blue streak, thinking I was the only one home. Turns out, my son had just come home with his new girlfriend and left her alone in the house while he went to the gym. "Uh, it's so nice to meet you...."

 

[Joe Schmo]

As a self own, my son hates it when I tell dad jokes in front of his friends. Now that he lives on his own I do my best not to do that when he comes over but sometimes the urge is just too strong.

It's kind of your job as a dad.

I tell him all the time he is gonna miss this when I'm gone, he gives me a death stare and insists he won't.

 

[General Malaise]

Back in 8th or 9th grade when being cool was THE most important thing an adolescent male in Highland Park Texas could reach for in life, my mom and dad bought a bright yellow tandem bicycle and rode it all over the town, up and down the neighborhood blocks where my judgy peers would spot them. Really cool, mom and dad.....really, really, really cool.

 

[coopersdad]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law are incapable of making a waiter's job easy. They cannot just order something as is off the menu and always have at least one or two requested changes and usually have some sort of input or special request as to how the food is prepared. They'll then almost always request some side of something that isn't a side so the poor waiter needs to figure out how to get it ordered and what the charge will be. Then, when the food comes, they'll inevitably want something changed or something wasn't correct and more "orders" are given and not usually in the nicest of tones. They also will have little to no patience for the waiter should they need something else during the dining experience - e.g. a refill, more dressing, a different side, more napkins, etc.

We (their children and their children's spouses) have to just sit there trying to not be embarrassed - which gets tough when the poor waiter looks at us for what appears like help (which, of course, we can't really give). I make it a point to be as kind to the server as possible when taking my order and getting my food. My wife does the same. I'll usually say something as well like, "I'll take the [insert entree] the way the chef has it listed" to try to subtly let the waiter know I understand.

The saving grace is that they tip really well if the waiter maneuvers their difficult asks and expectations and will still tip decently if the waiter screws up (which happens more often than not because if the place is at all busy the waiter inevitably will). If they didn't I would seriously consider not dining with them - which would be a shame because it's usually a pleasurable experience otherwise and something we often do.

Your in laws don't live in Omaha NE do they................if so I didn't know that my BIL or SIL posts on this site. I was going to read all the posts and then post my experience. I could just copy and paste yours except for the tipping..........I always have to make sure that if they pay for dinner the tip is calculated correctly (especially if they are visiting me and we go to a place I frequent).

My (now adult kids) make a game of how long it will take them to order / changes /etc............set over/under lines and have side bets at the table for paying for drinks.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

He's been gone for awhile, but there was this one uncle who would show up late and drunk every Christmas at my parents house. One year he stumbled through the door with a handful of poorly wrapped presents, goes up to the tree to drop off his gifts, trips and crashes into the tree, knocks it over and falls on top of it. All of us kids thought it was the funniest thing ever, but for some reason the adults did not agree. He was never invited again.

Was his name Eddie per chance?

It was Uncle Chuck. As in upchuck.

 

[Zow]

My mother-in-law and father-in-law are incapable of making a waiter's job easy. They cannot just order something as is off the menu and always have at least one or two requested changes and usually have some sort of input or special request as to how the food is prepared. They'll then almost always request some side of something that isn't a side so the poor waiter needs to figure out how to get it ordered and what the charge will be. Then, when the food comes, they'll inevitably want something changed or something wasn't correct and more "orders" are given and not usually in the nicest of tones. They also will have little to no patience for the waiter should they need something else during the dining experience - e.g. a refill, more dressing, a different side, more napkins, etc.

We (their children and their children's spouses) have to just sit there trying to not be embarrassed - which gets tough when the poor waiter looks at us for what appears like help (which, of course, we can't really give). I make it a point to be as kind to the server as possible when taking my order and getting my food. My wife does the same. I'll usually say something as well like, "I'll take the [insert entree] the way the chef has it listed" to try to subtly let the waiter know I understand.

The saving grace is that they tip really well if the waiter maneuvers their difficult asks and expectations and will still tip decently if the waiter screws up (which happens more often than not because if the place is at all busy the waiter inevitably will). If they didn't I would seriously consider not dining with them - which would be a shame because it's usually a pleasurable experience otherwise and something we often do.

Your in laws don't live in Omaha NE do they................if so I didn't know that my BIL or SIL posts on this site. I was going to read all the posts and then post my experience. I could just copy and paste yours except for the tipping..........I always have to make sure that if they pay for dinner the tip is calculated correctly (especially if they are visiting me and we go to a place I frequent).

My (now adult kids) make a game of how long it will take them to order / changes /etc............set over/under lines and have side bets at the table for paying for drinks.

Haha they don't. Though this page is making me realize that this is a common phenomenon. Though 'm very glad that the bold doesn't apply to my family as they are truly exceptional tippers when their needs are met.

What I don't get though is the need for somebody to order something than modify it so much. It's like, "I'd like the southwestern cobb but instead of the chipotle blue cheese dressing I'd like it with thousand island. Also, no egg... unless can I get a scrambled egg on the side? No? Then no egg, give me a side of extra crispy bacon and instead of chicken have them do beef. Also, no croutons but top it with cheddar cheese. Oh, and can I get a side of that soup that you only serve on Sundays even though it's Tuesday night but can it be made with no heavy cream and... oh, why can't you do that?? Okay, fine, I'll just take a cheeseburger with no bun, extra lettuce and bacon, and a side of breakfast potatoes even though it's 7 PM"

Maddening. I genuinely don't understand the need to so significantly modify a proffered dish beyond like, "I'll take the southwestern cobb salad but no corn because I have a corn allergy" or some other easy modification to meet a reasonable need or purpose. I assume at any decent place the chef has designed the dish to be a mix of certain flavors so I see eating certain restaurant dishes as borderline sampling a piece of art.

 

[ChiefD]

When we leave the house, my wife will

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

What's the group got?

That sounds like my mom when I was a little boy in the late 1970's. In general, she thought the world was against her but with regards to store clerks/waiters/bank tellers/government workers, she believed they deliberately were trying to take advantage of her, and it was a moral obligation to fight back no matter how small or insignificant the situation was.

I can feel my face burn in remembering trips to the bank when she cashed her paycheck. My mother insisted the teller count out the bills twice and then she would count them out a third time. There were only a couple of discrepancies and each time it was my mom who had miscounted.

 

[Brunell4MVP]

It's not embarrassing, but it's annoying. My dad leaves the TV on in every room in the house when we go on vacation or visit his house or vice versa. At times the TV will be on in the Family Room, basement, his bedroom, and wherever else he can find one. Nobody around, no reason to leave it on, nobody watching it including him, and hell we might be leaving for dinner for a few hours. But dammit those TVs are not going off. He also watches QVC, which is in fact embarrassing.

 

[-fish-]

Back in 8th or 9th grade when being cool was THE most important thing an adolescent male in Highland Park Texas could reach for in life, my mom and dad bought a bright yellow tandem bicycle and rode it all over the town, up and down the neighborhood blocks where my judgy peers would spot them. Really cool, mom and dad.....really, really, really cool.

This is hilarious.

 

[rockaction]

I am wondering how much money an item would have to be mismarked by for me to make a fuss.

Unfortunately as dementia has slowly set in, the most annoying thing that a family member does no longer happens but my MIL was such a pain in the *** to food staff. Every time we would go out to eat, she would do or say something embarrassing. Her favorite line to servers who didn't know something was "oh you're new here". We laugh about it but it's also so cringeworthy. Every drink gets sent back because it's too sweet or not sweet enough. Her steak is never cooked right. She always wants to talk with the manager at some point just to give them all her thoughts about the meal which she considers doing them a favor because she thinks they need to know that the potatoes were too peppery or the server is pronouncing the wine wrong. Sadly now she can't remember enough to figure out a complaint to lodge.

Sorry to hear it, bud. My uncle has been diagnosed with Alzheimers and closer to home we're getting closer to having to get a card to give to people. It's awful and something I began to think about a few years ago because of the stories here (Mrs. R. especially) and now it's come close to home and is getting closer and it's miserable and changes everything. And the change to one's life doesn't even matter because one sees the other person and cannot believe that this is the person that once was, and one can only feel an extraordinary amount of empathy and not care about how it affects the one not suffering (until the affected person gets more advanced in their decline and gets worse about watching baseball—enough to try to pick verbal fights with other people because their team is losing—that sucks).

**** this age-related personality replacement. I hate it.

 

[El Floppo]

My dad farts all over his house when you come to visit. It's like he gave up being considerate and decided he's gonna do what he wants in his own house. It's especially embarrassing when we have a big get together and significant others are with us. Just gross.

Son?

 

[Zow]

I want to toss out an honorable mention for my deceased maternal grandfather. Love that guy and I probably most closely resemble him as a person. I intentionally went to college close by him and got some real quality time with him and my grandmother that I look fondly on.

However, apart from his end of life political craziness which I'll chalk up to age, he consistently did this incredibly embarrassing thing where he'd intentionally drive ~5 mph below the speed limit in the lefthand lane. As he was my most often ride in college, I sat in the passenger seat just blocking my face in shame when drivers would understandably pass us on the right and stare us down. He knew what he was doing as well which made it worse (he though people drove too fast) but he was the man of the family and needed to drive so you just got to sit there while he did this. For our Minnesota FBGs this would be on I-94 between the cities and St. Cloud. Maddening.

Come to think of it, my dad's wife (later in life marriage so weird to call her stepmom) has this embarrassing driving quirk as well where she both refuses to pass trucks via the left lane and she refuses to ride behind a truck in the right lane. So, basically, she camps in the truck's blind spot on the highway for miles. Of note, she drives the Jersey turnpike like every day. I'm genuinely surprised she hasn't been shot.

 

[rockaction]

Come to think of it, my dad's wife (later in life marriage so weird to call her stepmom) has this embarrassing driving quirk as well where she both refuses to pass trucks via the left lane and she refuses to ride behind a truck in the right lane. So, basically, she camps in the truck's blind spot on the highway for miles. Of note, she drives the Jersey turnpike like every day. I'm genuinely surprised she hasn't been shot.

I don’t want to turn this into a driving thread but my mother has a “blind spot” in her car and has trouble changing lanes in any reasonable fashion. She hides in these eighteen-wheelers’ blind spots during ramp merges and then subsequently, and they’ve gone to change lanes at least two times by my count. We are lucky to be alive. It’s total insanity.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I want to toss out an honorable mention for my deceased maternal grandfather. Love that guy and I probably most closely resemble him as a person. I intentionally went to college close by him and got some real quality time with him and my grandmother that I look fondly on.

However, apart from his end of life political craziness which I'll chalk up to age, he consistently did this incredibly embarrassing thing where he'd intentionally drive ~5 mph below the speed limit in the lefthand lane. As he was my most often ride in college, I sat in the passenger seat just blocking my face in shame when drivers would understandably pass us on the right and stare us down. He knew what he was doing as well which made it worse (he though people drove too fast) but he was the man of the family and needed to drive so you just got to sit there while he did this. For our Minnesota FBGs this would be on I-94 between the cities and St. Cloud. Maddening.

Come to think of it, my dad's wife (later in life marriage so weird to call her stepmom) has this embarrassing driving quirk as well where she both refuses to pass trucks via the left lane and she refuses to ride behind a truck in the right lane. So, basically, she camps in the truck's blind spot on the highway for miles. Of note, she drives the Jersey turnpike like every day. I'm genuinely surprised she hasn't been shot.

For much of the NJ Turnpike, there are two sets of northbound and southbound lanes. In one set, only cars are allowed. Hopefully she uses those.

 

[fatness]

My younger brother is on the autism spectrum and has been all his life. We're all used to the way he communicates --- his body and mind just seem to take a different route converting thoughts into words, and what takes you or me 30 seconds to say takes him maybe 2 minutes. He breaks his thoughts into parts, and says them repeatedly, then adds on the next part of the thought and repeats it a bunch, and so on and so on until he's done. People listening have time to look at each other, smile, roll eyes, different ways to say "yep, he's still got awhile to go, but he's cool".

"what happened?"
Most people: "Lamar handed the ball to Flowers on a reverse, and Flowers threw it back to Henry who ran down the sideline for 30 yards."

"what happened?"
Brother: "OK, get this. Get this. OK? Lamar. All right? Lamar. Lamar takes the snap. OK, he takes the snap. He takes the snap and hands it to Flowers. Hands it to Flowers. Reverse. Hands it to Flowers on a reverse. The ooooooold reverse. The ooooooold reverse. So Lamar hands it to Flowers on the reverse and he, and he, Flowers throws it. Flowers throws it. On the reverse. Flowers throws it. And guess who he throws it to? Guess who Flowers throws it to? Go ahead, guess. Henry. He throws it to Henry. Flowers. Flowers throws it to Henry. On the reverse. Flowers throws it to Henry. On the reverse. ............ Oh, yeah, I left out this part. I left out this part. Flowers runs the ooooooooold reverse, and he throws it to Henry. Throws it to Henry. Throws it to Henry who proceeds to blast everyone in his path. Everyone. Henry blasts everyone"

That's just how he's been since childhood and just who he is and how he talks, and that's that. It only seems weird or awkward in social situations. I have a lot of grandkids, and them getting to know him felt strange for them until they got a bit of information about him. "Uncle sure takes a long time to say things, but that's just the way he's always talked. And you gotta admit he's kind of fun, and kind, and funny. He's cool." He is, in fact, the kindest person in my entire family, and I respect him and talk to him at least a couple times a month.

Did I also mention that a reverse is the oooooooold reverse? And a turkey coming out of the oven is the oooooooold turkey? And the NFL season opener is the oooooooold NFL season opener?

So anyway that's my cool but awkward brother.

 

[glvsav37]

My wife takes personal offense to, and makes the poor schlub who has to check our receipt at the exit door at places like BJ's and Walmart her mortal enemy. Like genuinely pissed off, huffing, eye rolling and almost throwing the receipt at them. I have literally contemplated it as grounds for divorce on the walk back to the car and it has sparked legit fights between us.

I'm like "Babe, do you really think they want to be there, a 65 year old man, making $10/hr counting people's carts?? This happens every time we come here, its their policy....don't like it, don't f'in shop here again!!!" But no, every trip its like they are waisting her precious 5 minutes and personally accusing her of stealing.

She even....ohhhh this pissed me off.....had to make 2 transactions (1 was a school related purchase so she need a sep receipt). She purposefully hid the 2nd receipt to see if they would notice. They did and she had to hand over the 2nd one and make a scene like a petulant child. Meanwhile I'm doing low fist pumps on the other side of the cart.

JFC.....its their job, get over it

 

[Pip's Invitation]

My wife takes personal offense to the poor schlub who has to check our receipt at the exit door at places like BJ's and Walmart. Like genuinely pissed off, huffing, eye rolling and almost throwing the receipt at them. I have literally contemplated it as grounds for divorce on the walk back to the car and it has sparked legit fights between us.

I'm like "Babe, do you really think they want to be there, a 65 year old man, making $10/hr counting people's carts?? This happens every time we come here, its their policy....don't like it, don't f'in shop here again!!!" But no, every trip its like they are waisting her precious 5 minutes and personally accusing her of stealing.

She even....ohhhh this pissed me off.....had to make 2 transactions (1 was a school related purchase so she need a sep receipt). She purposefully hid the 2nd receipt to see if they would notice. They did and she had to hand over the 2nd one and make a scene like a petulant child. Meanwhile I'm doing low fist pumps on the other side of the cart.

JFC.....its their job, get over it

Dare I ask how she treats Disney employees?

 

[glvsav37]

My wife takes personal offense to the poor schlub who has to check our receipt at the exit door at places like BJ's and Walmart. Like genuinely pissed off, huffing, eye rolling and almost throwing the receipt at them. I have literally contemplated it as grounds for divorce on the walk back to the car and it has sparked legit fights between us.

I'm like "Babe, do you really think they want to be there, a 65 year old man, making $10/hr counting people's carts?? This happens every time we come here, its their policy....don't like it, don't f'in shop here again!!!" But no, every trip its like they are waisting her precious 5 minutes and personally accusing her of stealing.

She even....ohhhh this pissed me off.....had to make 2 transactions (1 was a school related purchase so she need a sep receipt). She purposefully hid the 2nd receipt to see if they would notice. They did and she had to hand over the 2nd one and make a scene like a petulant child. Meanwhile I'm doing low fist pumps on the other side of the cart.

JFC.....its their job, get over it

Dare I ask how she treats Disney employees?

nah, we are genuinely happy there, and I've never seen anyone checking receipts after you buy something. IDK what it is about these poor guys and ladies at BJs.

Now, my in-laws on the other hand.....they make it their personal mission to complain about anything and every thing and brag about how much "free", "Upgraded" or "Comped" things they get. Even at Disney. They are grand masters at the "What are you going to do for me?" cult. We dont spend a lot of time with them thankfully, but when we do, all we hear about is "Did I tell you how I didn't have to pay for the room a [wherever]?"

 

[MAC_32]

Below is an excerpt of a letter my wife wrote to me a year or so ago when things were going very VERY poorly amidst my family:

'I look at my family and I know you did not have the same experiences as me, even though we both came from a two parent household. I like to think we take after my parents, pray that we work hard enough to never become yours, and it's important you know that you are not like your father.'

I share that because I saw this thread title and I was instantly over whelmed with how to respond. My first thought was 'uhhhh, everything.' I feel in a weird place now as my dad passed this past winter and my mom has now mostly recovered from heart surgery late spring. I feel obligated to invite her again in our kids activities, but now it'll entail overnight stays as she can't drive more than a couple hours per day, so I don't want to include her. Because what embarrasses me about her? As it turns out, existing, and I only write that with some hyperbole.

 

[Max Power]

My wife takes personal offense to, and makes the poor schlub who has to check our receipt at the exit door at places like BJ's and Walmart her mortal enemy. Like genuinely pissed off, huffing, eye rolling and almost throwing the receipt at them. I have literally contemplated it as grounds for divorce on the walk back to the car and it has sparked legit fights between us.

I'm like "Babe, do you really think they want to be there, a 65 year old man, making $10/hr counting people's carts?? This happens every time we come here, its their policy....don't like it, don't f'in shop here again!!!" But no, every trip its like they are waisting her precious 5 minutes and personally accusing her of stealing.

She even....ohhhh this pissed me off.....had to make 2 transactions (1 was a school related purchase so she need a sep receipt). She purposefully hid the 2nd receipt to see if they would notice. They did and she had to hand over the 2nd one and make a scene like a petulant child. Meanwhile I'm doing low fist pumps on the other side of the cart.

JFC.....its their job, get over it

Reminded me of a time I was walking out of Walmart and there was a line forming for reciept checks. Some guy was skipping the line and walking out when the store employee tried to stop him.

He screamed "4th Amendment buddy! Learn it!" Into the employees' face and proceeded on his way.

 

[rockaction]

My wife takes personal offense to, and makes the poor schlub who has to check our receipt at the exit door at places like BJ's and Walmart her mortal enemy. Like genuinely pissed off, huffing, eye rolling and almost throwing the receipt at them. I have literally contemplated it as grounds for divorce on the walk back to the car and it has sparked legit fights between us.

I'm like "Babe, do you really think they want to be there, a 65 year old man, making $10/hr counting people's carts?? This happens every time we come here, its their policy....don't like it, don't f'in shop here again!!!" But no, every trip its like they are waisting her precious 5 minutes and personally accusing her of stealing.

She even....ohhhh this pissed me off.....had to make 2 transactions (1 was a school related purchase so she need a sep receipt). She purposefully hid the 2nd receipt to see if they would notice. They did and she had to hand over the 2nd one and make a scene like a petulant child. Meanwhile I'm doing low fist pumps on the other side of the cart.

JFC.....its their job, get over it

I don't know what New York's (or are you PA) law is, but in CA you can walk on out of the store and they can't do **** but yell at you. Now, California has massive shoplifting problems because of laws like that, but maybe check your state's law if you're ever not getting marital, uh, you know. Put her in the mood. Put on Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By" and whisper sweet Walk On Byes into her ear.

I kid. I have no idea what to say. I blew it off once. I was in a three-person line with ice cream and chocolate and I saw the checker making polite conversation. Okay, that's okay, rock. They're being human. Then the woman (with tons of flair that is starting to look off to me) is getting into a political conversation with an obviously uncomfortable Latino and tells him something about (forget the story). I skipped the line. I still see her and just shake my head. Like, what on earth are you saying to people?

I waved my hand angrily at her and threw the receipt on the floor. It was an MoP moment, but Christmas. What are you saying? The guy was pissed. By that time I was a few steps ahead and he's expressing his displeasure to his wife and Christmas again. Do you know you're an employee and you don't do that? Christmas.

 

[rockaction]

Below is an excerpt of a letter my wife wrote to me a year or so ago when things were going very VERY poorly amidst my family:

'I look at my family and I know you did not have the same experiences as me, even though we both came from a two parent household. I like to think we take after my parents, pray that we work hard enough to never become yours, and it's important you know that you are not like your father.'

I share that because I saw this thread title and I was instantly over whelmed with how to respond. My first thought was 'uhhhh, everything.' I feel in a weird place now as my dad passed this past winter and my mom has now mostly recovered from heart surgery late spring. I feel obligated to invite her again in our kids activities, but now it'll entail overnight stays as she can't drive more than a couple hours per day, so I don't want to include her. Because what embarrasses me about her? As it turns out, existing, and I only write that with some hyperbole.

Sorry, MAC. I don't know what to say and it can't possibly ease that sort of deeply felt issue. It sort of gives me a bit of the chills. I'm so lucky to have had the parents I have had. Thank God I realized that once I hit forty (I'm fifty-one). It still wasn't soon enough.

 

[rockaction]

My wife takes personal offense to, and makes the poor schlub who has to check our receipt at the exit door at places like BJ's and Walmart her mortal enemy. Like genuinely pissed off, huffing, eye rolling and almost throwing the receipt at them. I have literally contemplated it as grounds for divorce on the walk back to the car and it has sparked legit fights between us.

I'm like "Babe, do you really think they want to be there, a 65 year old man, making $10/hr counting people's carts?? This happens every time we come here, its their policy....don't like it, don't f'in shop here again!!!" But no, every trip its like they are waisting her precious 5 minutes and personally accusing her of stealing.

She even....ohhhh this pissed me off.....had to make 2 transactions (1 was a school related purchase so she need a sep receipt). She purposefully hid the 2nd receipt to see if they would notice. They did and she had to hand over the 2nd one and make a scene like a petulant child. Meanwhile I'm doing low fist pumps on the other side of the cart.

JFC.....its their job, get over it

Reminded me of a time I was walking out of Walmart and there was a line forming for reciept checks. Some guy was skipping the line and walking out when the store employee tried to stop him.

He screamed "4th Amendment buddy! Learn it!" Into the employees' face and proceeded on his way.

Cops can't illegally seize you, Max. That's who the Fourth applies to. That's for government agents. Employees damn sure can't either, but I think that's on kidnapping grounds.

eta* I still loved your post because it's funny.

 

[Zow]

I want to toss out an honorable mention for my deceased maternal grandfather. Love that guy and I probably most closely resemble him as a person. I intentionally went to college close by him and got some real quality time with him and my grandmother that I look fondly on.

However, apart from his end of life political craziness which I'll chalk up to age, he consistently did this incredibly embarrassing thing where he'd intentionally drive ~5 mph below the speed limit in the lefthand lane. As he was my most often ride in college, I sat in the passenger seat just blocking my face in shame when drivers would understandably pass us on the right and stare us down. He knew what he was doing as well which made it worse (he though people drove too fast) but he was the man of the family and needed to drive so you just got to sit there while he did this. For our Minnesota FBGs this would be on I-94 between the cities and St. Cloud. Maddening.

Come to think of it, my dad's wife (later in life marriage so weird to call her stepmom) has this embarrassing driving quirk as well where she both refuses to pass trucks via the left lane and she refuses to ride behind a truck in the right lane. So, basically, she camps in the truck's blind spot on the highway for miles. Of note, she drives the Jersey turnpike like every day. I'm genuinely surprised she hasn't been shot.

For much of the NJ Turnpike, there are two sets of northbound and southbound lanes. In one set, only cars are allowed. Hopefully she uses those.

I think she does. My lone firsthand experience with this was when we were on the turnpike almost to NYC and there were no lane delineations. She basically held up the entire highway. I was driving behind her with my dad and two of my kids (my dad doesn't prefer to drive) and was following her and my wife and other kids. When we sat in the left hand lane for a couple of miles I finally asked my dad about what she was doing. He had to embarrassingly tell me the quirk but still nonetheless defended her because that's the dynamic of their relationship. So, we sat there for 10-20 miles with her refusing to pass the truck. Maddening.

Given that I wanted to road rage on her - and I otherwise like her and she is family - I don't know how others literally haven't.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Im 100% sure our previous cleaning lady quit because my FIL, who was living with us at the time made advances at her.

The old catbird struck again.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

My mom wanted to give the grandkids some cash for college so I took her to the bank where she says “I WANT TO TAKE TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS OUT” so loud that everyone in the entire bank can hear. No concept of being discreet.

I dunno, maybe that says more about me/my jadedness of others.

 

[Dr_Zaius]

Before my sister-in-law got divorced, her husband could be the source of some embarrassment. He's a nice guy but has a bit of a cluelessness vibe about him which would lead to him saying or doing embarrassing things. One time we were at the beach with my wife's side of the family. I don't remember the exact specifics, but for some reason my wife and our kids were there earlier than the rest, so we're hanging out on beach chairs near the ocean in our bathing suits. Brother-in-law walks up, excitedly says how he loves the ocean, then proceeds to walk into the surf fully clothed (including jean shorts and sneakers) to play in the waves. And his idea of playing in the waves was apparently to stand right where they are breaking and just get knocked over repeatedly. This went on for at least 5 minutes. I was really surprised the lifeguards didn't do anything, but he's a pretty strong guy so I guess they figured it was fine. Or maybe they were just as confused as I was.

 

[MAC_32]

Below is an excerpt of a letter my wife wrote to me a year or so ago when things were going very VERY poorly amidst my family:

'I look at my family and I know you did not have the same experiences as me, even though we both came from a two parent household. I like to think we take after my parents, pray that we work hard enough to never become yours, and it's important you know that you are not like your father.'

I share that because I saw this thread title and I was instantly over whelmed with how to respond. My first thought was 'uhhhh, everything.' I feel in a weird place now as my dad passed this past winter and my mom has now mostly recovered from heart surgery late spring. I feel obligated to invite her again in our kids activities, but now it'll entail overnight stays as she can't drive more than a couple hours per day, so I don't want to include her. Because what embarrasses me about her? As it turns out, existing, and I only write that with some hyperbole.

Sorry, MAC. I don't know what to say and it can't possibly ease that sort of deeply felt issue. It sort of gives me a bit of the chills. I'm so lucky to have had the parents I have had. Thank God I realized that once I hit forty (I'm 51). It still wasn't soon enough.

Macro level, I think I do a good, potentially great, job managing stress. Those 2 are the exceptions though. While my solutions to avoidable stress generally work (succinctly, get rid of them), when it's your parents? and they want to be involved? I become paralyzed.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

I want to toss out an honorable mention for my deceased maternal grandfather. Love that guy and I probably most closely resemble him as a person. I intentionally went to college close by him and got some real quality time with him and my grandmother that I look fondly on.

However, apart from his end of life political craziness which I'll chalk up to age, he consistently did this incredibly embarrassing thing where he'd intentionally drive ~5 mph below the speed limit in the lefthand lane. As he was my most often ride in college, I sat in the passenger seat just blocking my face in shame when drivers would understandably pass us on the right and stare us down. He knew what he was doing as well which made it worse (he though people drove too fast) but he was the man of the family and needed to drive so you just got to sit there while he did this. For our Minnesota FBGs this would be on I-94 between the cities and St. Cloud. Maddening.

Come to think of it, my dad's wife (later in life marriage so weird to call her stepmom) has this embarrassing driving quirk as well where she both refuses to pass trucks via the left lane and she refuses to ride behind a truck in the right lane. So, basically, she camps in the truck's blind spot on the highway for miles. Of note, she drives the Jersey turnpike like every day. I'm genuinely surprised she hasn't been shot.

For much of the NJ Turnpike, there are two sets of northbound and southbound lanes. In one set, only cars are allowed. Hopefully she uses those.

I think she does. My lone firsthand experience with this was when we were on the turnpike almost to NYC and there were no lane delineations. She basically held up the entire highway. I was driving behind her with my dad and two of my kids (my dad doesn't prefer to drive) and was following her and my wife and other kids. When we sat in the left hand lane for a couple of miles I finally asked my dad about what she was doing. He had to embarrassingly tell me the quirk but still nonetheless defended her because that's the dynamic of their relationship. So, we sat there for 10-20 miles with her refusing to pass the truck. Maddening.

Given that I wanted to road rage on her - and I otherwise like her and she is family - I don't know how others literally haven't.

Ah yes, the part where it becomes "Eastern spur" and "Western spur" and you get trucks in both. AKA the worst road(s) in New Jersey.

A pseudo-peeve of mine is that northbound when it changes from car lanes vs. truck lanes to Eastern spur vs. Western spur, you have to keep left for Eastern and right for Western. Then they cross over each other. My brain always says, WTF, East is supposed to be right and West is supposed to be left.